DESTINATION GUIDE
Mountain golf in Alberta's Canadian Rockies
By Brandon Tucker,
Senior Writer
Locals may be immensely proud of their extraordinary backyard, but the secret's been out in Alberta's Canadian Rockies for quite some time. Ever since the Canadian National Railway was formed here in the 1920s, some seriously good golf pulled into the region as well.
|
Most famous for the Fairmont Banff Springs golf course and hotel, today Alberta's Canadian Rockies are home to seven championship courses of various styles, though each features spectacular mountain scenery and an abundance of wildlife, including elk and black and grizzly bears.
Just west of Calgary, the eastern edge of the Canadian Rockies emerges and is home to two spectacularly beautiful National Parks, Jasper and Banff. Both UNESCO World Heritage sites that draw visitors from all over the world, they have been on the map for some time, with Banff Springs opening its famous castle hotel in 1888.
Canadian course architect Stanley Thompson began his legacy in the Rockies in 1925. He redesigned the golf course at Banff Springs a few years later about 300 kilometers south on the Icefields Parkway, considered one of the world's most beautiful drives. Among Thompson's legendary creations is the par-3 fourth hole at Banff, "Devil's Cauldron."
But in recent decades, the two have welcomed some new neighbors. Robert Trent Jones built two courses at Kananaskis Country Golf Course in 1970. A nearby mountain in Kananaskis later went on to host the skiing events during the 1988 Winter Olympic Games.
Just around the corner from Banff, Canmore is home to Stewart Creek Golf & Country Club. Across the valley is the new Silvertip Golf Resort, designed by prolific local architect Les Furber and the most dramatic of the bunch with over 600 feet of elevation change. Furber is a member at the more understated Canmore Golf & Curling Club, which welcomes public play.
Canadian Rockies climate
Perhaps the only thing wrong with the Canadian Rockies as a golf destination is that the season is tantalizingly short, the summer season ranging from June-September. July and August are the busiest months of the year, with idyllic golf temperatures in the 70s (22-25 C). It can be cool in the morning, so pack a sweater. Off-season golf depends on the weather and can usually be had at a discount. There is no shortage of daylight here, however, from about 5 a.m. to 10 p.m. around the solstice.
Getting to the Canadian Rockies
Calgary is the best international hub to reach the golf courses of the Canadian Rockies. Located about 100 kilometers from Banff, it receives much more international air traffic than Edmonton to the north.
July 24, 2009
Any opinions expressed above are those of the writer and do not necessarily represent the views of the management. The information in this story was accurate at the time of publication. All contact information, directions and prices should be confirmed directly with the golf course or resort before making reservations and/or travel plans.
More on golf in Alberta, Canada
Jasper Park Lodge Golf Course in Alberta, Canada
Jasper Park Lodge Golf Course is located in Alberta's Canadian Rockies and in Jasper National Park, the country's largest and northernmost national park and a UNESCO World Heritage site. The golf course was designed in 1925 by Canadian architect Stanley Thompson, who just a few years later would go down the road and build Banff Springs as well.
... full article »Mountain golf in Alberta's Canadian Rockies
Ever since the Canadian National Railway was formed in Alberta's Canadian Rockies in the 1920s, some seriously good golf pulled into the region as well. Most famous for the Fairmont Banff Springs golf course and hotel, today Alberta's Canadian Rockies are home to seven championship courses, each featuring spectacular mountain scenery and an abundance of wildlife.
... full article »New Adams i-Woods give golfers alternative to long irons
When you&'ve got 215 to the pin, the green tucked behind a glistening pond, the wind slightly in your face and the match on the line, you've only got one option. Grab your 2-iron, clench your teeth, and swat at it for dear life.
... full article »Calgary has gone crazy for golf
There is no other place in the world that boasts a higher percentage of participants. More than half of the adult population plays the game. The oilmen, the executives, the cattle ranchers, the computer geeks -- they all play. And, with the exceptional quality of golf courses that surround them, who can blame them? Join Andrew Penner as he travels to the foothills of the Rocky Mountains for a special look.
... full article »Alberta has a gem in Rod Whitman's Blackhawk Golf Club
Remember the name Rod Whitman. Held in the highest regard from some of the greatest architects in the game, Rod Whitman is an unsung hero in golfdom. Although his name is seldom mentioned (some say he likes it that way), he has designed golf courses all over the world. He's tweaked courses for major championships and worked alongside Jack Nicklaus, Pete Dye, and Bill Coore. Now, routed along the banks of the North Saskatchewan River just south of Edmonton, Alberta, Rod Whitman may have just designed -- and built -- his best course ever.
... full article »- Courses for horses: Only big dogs need apply
- La Paz Golf Club tops list of world's highest courses
- Jack Nicklaus' 'Northern' Exposure Stars in Edmonton
- SilverTip Resort: Extreme mountain experience will test your slope skills
Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge Golf Course: 'Toronto Terror' gem a Canadian Rockies delight
Canada's most prolific Golden Era architect, Stanley Thompson, also known as the "Toronto Terror" for his larger-than-life persona, designed one of his best at [...]
Photo Gallery: Jasper Park Lodge Golf Course in Alberta, Canada
Mountain golf in Alberta's Canadian Rockies
